Work is to start today on a major seven-month project to upgrade a town centre’s ‘uneven’ pavements.

Shoppers and businesses are being warned to expect disruption as the scheme is carried out on Newcastle’s High Street.

It will include the area between Paradise Street and Guildhall and will be done in small sections.

For a six-week period in July and August, High Street will be closed to traffic between Paradise Street and Hick Street while work is completed on the narrower sections. Taxis will be diverted along Hassell Street during this period.

The project is expected to take seven months

Councillor Helen Fisher, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet support member for highways and transport, said: “Newcastle town centre is a thriving shopping area and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe and attractive place to visit.

“We will be carrying out this improvement scheme at the southern end of the High Street from January 15 and it will be due for completion in the summer.

Read More

“It is being carried out in small sections to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. We will need to close a section to traffic for a six-week period in the summer in order to carry out that phase safely.

"We’d like to thank people for their patience while work is carried out.”

Newcastle town centre/High Street

Some traders in the town centre were concerned about the potential disruption that could be caused by the scheme.

Stuart Pepper, aged 58, who runs the mobile unit First Class Foods, said: “Anything like this, especially over such a substantial period of time, is going to affect our trade. It could make it difficult for us to manoeuvre and park.

Read More

"It’s difficult enough for market traders. There are some parts of the pavements that are uneven but I’m not sure how needed the work is. It won’t attract any more people into the town.”

The work will be carried out in sections to minimise disruption

Former Newcastle Borough councillor Chris Mallun, aged 70, who helps out on a market stall, said: “It will cause a lot of disruption for people. The council hasn’t told the market traders about what’s going to happen.

"There are areas where the pavement needs improving but does it warrant the vast expense of work that will take this long to complete?”